BOSS NOT HAPPY TO REST ON LAURELS OF TOP 10 FINISH AND HE IS DETERMINED TO PUSH ON
RAFA Benitez has spoken of his delight at finishing in the Premier League’s top 10 this season. However, the Spaniard admits he has loftier ambitions for the Magpies in the years to come and requires serious backing from the club’s owner in the next few weeks. Benitez’s name was chanted around St James’ Park as his side walloped Chelsea 3-0 and earned a respectable placing in English football’s top flight – just 12 months after winning promotion. Benitez said after the game: “It is not enough just to finish 10th with four or five teams around you. “What I would like is to be sure the team is able to compete to finish above 10th. “That means having the right quality, the right mentality and the right level through the whole season, not just for some performances. “This group of players has done so well, so it would be easy to say, ‘Okay, well you are already in the top 10.’ “I think we have to do something more to make sure the group is stronger and more competitive. “Then we can go to any stadium and think about going to win, rather than thinking that a draw might be a good result. “We have to have the confidence in our team to be able to go anywhere thinking we can win.” Benitez was then asked about his immediate future and replied: “I still have one year left on my contract.
“Now, we have to make sure we do the right things and are on the same page.
“The fans have ambitions and we have ambitions and we have to know if everybody has the same feelings too.
“The potential is there. It is easy to see what we have - now we need to do something more and be a little bit better.”
Newcastle had lost their previous four games before they took on the Blues but Benitez felt the season ended perfectly with a great win.
He added: “We were talking about that before the game.
“The way the team was working in the whole season, to be safe from relegation with five games to play was fantastic.
“It was a pity the bad run we had at the end, so we needed to try to do something to change our luck.
“We did it against Tottenham, although it was not enough, and we did it again today. It was a perfect day for the fans and the players. “We finished in 10th position, it was a great game with great goals and a really good atmosphere throughout the whole game, and especially at the end. It was pretty much a perfect Sunday.” Benitez’s name was chanted loudly around the stadium throughout with fans also making a plea for the Toon chief to stay. He said: “I was really proud of that but you cannot sing the name of the manager if the team is doing badly. “In this case, what the players did last season and what they have done this year was massive. “The fans appreciate this togetherness, and the relationship we have created. “The players care and the manager and staff and everybody care. “We were all working together to achieve what we wanted to achieve, which is success for the club.”
It’s easy to see what we have, now we need to do something more and be a little bit better Rafa Benitez